Maguire, left, has impressed since his return from injury with PrestonDAVE HOWARTH/PA

Even as a Championship striker, Kevin Kilbane feels Seán Maguire is ready-made to be a part of Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland revolution.

The Preston North End player was already deemed a central element of the overhaul facing the Ireland manager before he celebrated returning from a four-month injury lay-off by scoring four times in three matches, two of them as substitute. The Kilkenny native had also netted in the pair of games prior to suffering a hamstring injury against Aston Villa in November.

As a former Preston player himself, born and raised in the town, Kilbane has seen plenty of Maguire before and after his move from Cork City last July. His affinity to Ireland, whom he represented 110 times, means that Kilbane has…